DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage III ovarian epithelial cancer or primary peritoneal carcinoma of one of the following cell types: Serous adenocarcinoma Mucinous adenocarcinoma Clear-cell adenocarcinoma Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma (not otherwise specified) Undifferentiated carcinoma Transitional cell Malignant Brenner's tumor Mixed epithelial carcinoma No borderline tumor (tumor of low malignant potential) Underwent prior standard initial cytoreductive surgery within the past 6 weeks Optimally resected disease with no residual site of disease more than 1 cm in greatest dimension Removal of all disease extending beyond the reproductive tract Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy at cytoreductive surgery or in the past